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United States Patent |
5,638,559
|
Natri
,   et al.
|
June 17, 1997
|
Berth arrangement
Abstract
A berth arrangement for installation in a sleeping compartment having a
ceiling formed with a downwards open recess, comprises a berth holder and
a bearing for mounting the berth holder for turning relative to the
ceiling structure between a generally horizontal retracted position and a
generally vertical lowered position. A berth is journalled in the holder
to be turnable when the holder is in its lowered position between an
extended position, in which the berth extends substantially horizontally
away from the holder, and a folded up position, in which the berth is
disposed substantially vertically and is close to the holder. A first gas
spring is effective against the holder for exerting, over substantially
the entire range of angular movement of the holder, a torque that tends to
turn the holder in the direction from its lowered position toward its
retracted position and increases as a function of the angle through which
the holder turns in the direction from its lowered position toward its
retracted position over substantially the entire range of angular movement
of the holder. A second gas spring is effective between the holder and the
berth and exerts a torque that tends to turn the berth in the direction
from its extended position toward its folded up position.
Inventors:
|
Natri; Veikko (Espoo, FI);
Sarkka; Juhani (Littoinen, FI);
Flythstrom; Per (Svart.ang., FI)
|
Assignee:
|
Kvaerner Masa-Yards Oy (Helsinki, FI)
|
Appl. No.:
|
652916 |
Filed:
|
May 23, 1996 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
5/10.2; 5/118 |
Intern'l Class: |
A47C 017/33 |
Field of Search: |
5/10.1,10.2,118,164.1
114/188,192
296/174
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2632183 | Mar., 1953 | Patton et al. | 5/10.
|
3480975 | Dec., 1969 | Racine et al. | 114/192.
|
5353452 | Oct., 1994 | Rulis | 5/164.
|
5461735 | Oct., 1995 | Danton | 5/10.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
271789 | Jun., 1969 | AT.
| |
400094 | Sep., 1995 | AT.
| |
85555 | Jan., 1992 | FI.
| |
591 | Jan., 1993 | FI.
| |
21 43 926 | Mar., 1972 | DE.
| |
2 056 426 | Jun., 1972 | DE.
| |
473 558 | Jul., 1969 | CH.
| |
634977 | Mar., 1983 | CH.
| |
Primary Examiner: Trettel; Michael F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Smith-Hill and Bedell
Claims
We claim:
1. A berth arrangement for installation in a sleeping compartment having a
ceiling formed with a downwards open recess, said berth arrangement
comprising:
a berth holder,
a bearing means for mounting the berth holder for turning relative to the
ceiling structure about a turning axis, the berth holder turning between a
generally horizontal retracted position and a generally vertical lowered
position,
a berth journalled in the holder to be turnable when the holder is in its
lowered position about a turning axis, the berth turning between an
extended position, in which the berth extends substantially horizontally
away from the holder, and a folded up position, in which the berth is
disposed substantially vertically and is close to the holder,
a first gas spring means effective against the holder for exerting, over
substantially the entire range of angular movement of the holder, a torque
that tends to turn the holder in the direction from its lowered position
toward its retracted position and increases as a function of the angle
through which the holder turns in the direction from its lowered position
toward its retracted position over substantially the entire range of
angular movement of the holder, and
a second gas spring means effective between the holder and the berth and
exerting a torque that tends to turn the berth in the direction from its
extended position toward its folded up position.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first gas spring means
is effective against the holder at a distance of at least 150 mm from the
turning axis of the holder.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second gas spring means
is installed between a loading point on the berth and a fixed bearing
point on the holder, and wherein when the berth is in its extended
position, the loading point on the berth is between the holder and the
turning axis of the berth.
4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the second gas spring means
acts on the berth at a loading position such that the lateral distance
between the loading position and the turning axis of the berth is
approximately the same when the berth is in its folded up position as when
it is in its extended position.
5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spring force of the
second gas spring means is less than approximately half of the spring
force of the first gas spring means.
6. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first gas spring means
comprises at least one so-called linear gas spring.
7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the berth has first and
second longitudinal edges that are respectively nearer and farther from
the holder when the berth is in its extended position, and the turning
axis of the berth is at least 13 cm from the first longitudinal edge of
the berth.
8. An accommodation unit having a ceiling structure formed with a downwards
open recess and a berth arrangement installed in said recess, said berth
arrangement comprising:
a berth holder,
a bearing means supporting the berth holder for turning relative to the
ceiling structure about a turning axis, the berth holder turning between a
generally horizontal retracted position and a generally vertical lowered
position,
a berth journalled in the holder to be turnable when the holder is in its
lowered position about a turning axis, the berth turning between an
extended position, in which the berth extends substantially horizontally
away from the holder, and a folded up position, in which the berth is
disposed substantially vertically and is close to the holder,
a first gas spring means effective between the ceiling structure and the
holder and exerting, over substantially the entire range of angular
movement of the holder, a torque that tends to turn the holder in the
direction from its lowered position toward its retracted position and
increases as a function of the angle through which the holder turns in the
direction from its lowered position toward its retracted position over
substantially the entire range of angular movement of the holder, and
a second gas spring means effective between the holder and the berth and
exerting a torque that tends to turn the berth in the direction from its
extended position toward its folded up position.
9. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the first gas spring
means is effective against the holder at a distance of at least 180 mm
from the turning axis of the holder.
10. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the first gas
spring means is so dimensioned that when the holder is in its retracted
position, the first gas spring means exerts a torque on the holder that is
at least 240 Nm.
11. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the first gas
spring means is connected between a fixed bearing point of the ceiling
structure and a loading point of the holder, and the fixed bearing point
of the ceiling structure is so arranged that when the holder is in its
lowered position, the loading point of the holder is approximately in line
with the fixed bearing point of the ceiling structure and the turning axis
of the holder.
12. An accommodation unit according to claim 11, wherein, when the holder
is in its lowered position, the loading point of the holder lies slightly
off the line joining the fixed bearing point of the first gas spring means
and the turning axis of the holder, thereby exerting a holding torque
keeping the holder in its fully lowered position.
13. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the second gas
spring means is installed between a loading point on the berth and a
bearing point on the holder, and wherein when the berth is in its extended
position, the loading point on the berth is between the holder and the
turning axis of the berth.
14. An accommodation unit according to claim 13, wherein the second gas
spring means acts on the berth at a loading point such that the lateral
distance between the loading point and the turning axis of the berth is
approximately the same when the berth is in its folded up position as when
it is in its extended position.
15. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the spring force of
the second gas spring means is less than approximately half of the spring
force of the first gas spring means.
16. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the first gas
spring means comprises at least one so-called linear gas spring.
17. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the berth has first
and second longitudinal edges that are respectively nearer and farther
from the holder when the berth is in its extended position, and the
turning axis of the berth is at least 10 cm from the first longitudinal
edge of the berth.
18. An accommodation unit according to claim 8, wherein the first gas
spring means is so dimensioned that when the holder is in its retracted
position, the first gas spring means exerts a torque on the holder that is
at least 300 Nm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a berth arrangement.
In compartments used for sleeping, for example in passenger cabins of
ships, it is known to use berths that may be lowered from the ceiling. The
passenger accommodation areas of the passenger ship Santa Rosa (nowadays
S/S Regent Rainbow) were renewed in 1990 and the ceilings of the cabins
were provided with such berths. Typical for this kind of berth structure
is that the berth is supported by a holder that is turnably journalled in
the ceiling. The berth is moved from a use position to a position
retracted into the ceiling, by first turning the berth 90.degree. towards
the holder and then turning the holder together with the berth 90.degree.
upwards.
The torque exerted by a berth of the kind used in the Santa Rosa as it is
turned towards the holder decreases as a function of the angle through
which it has been turned, and the torque exerted by the holder and berth
combination as it is turned upward increases as a function of the angle
through which the combination has been turned. In the Santa Rosa, these
movements were facilitated by a wire mechanism. Patent Application FI
942972 (a parallel to U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,735) shows a similar berth
mechanism, the movements of which are controlled by means of jacks. Patent
publication NL 7415980 shows a similar berth mechanism where the movements
are facilitated by means of a balance weight. Several patent publications
such as CH 473558 and DE 2143926 show simple berth arrangements, where a
berth is foldable out from a fixed wall holder. The movements of the berth
are facilitated by pneumatic spring cylinders, but the application of
these cylinders is complicated, which underlines the complexity of the
problems involved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to keep to a minimum the external forces required on the part of a
passenger or staff member for moving a berth of the kind used in the Santa
Rosa between its position of use and its retracted position, it is
necessary to provide counterbalance torques that vary as a function of the
angular position of the berth and the combination of the holder and berth.
The object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use berth arrangement
which is retractable into the ceiling. The structure of the arrangement
should be as simple as possible.
Gas springs of the kind known per se are used in a berth mechanism
according to the invention. The gas springs may be of the type
manufactured and sold by the German firm Stabilus GmbH of Koblenz,
Germany. The gas springs are applied to automatically generate forces and
torques at least mainly balancing the forces and torques caused by
gravity. Hence, the berth may be lowered to a use position and lifted to a
retracted position with only a very small external force. The gas springs
may also have the effect that the moving parts of the berth arrangement
reliably stay in their desired end positions.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holder includes, at both
ends of the berth, a stiffening element turnably journalled close to the
ceiling. At a distance of at least 150 mm, preferably at least 180 mm,
from the holder's turning axis the stiffening elements each have a loading
point, to which a gas spring element is attached. Since the distance from
this point to the turning axis of the holder is of the magnitude
mentioned, gas springs with a relatively small spring force may be used to
exert a substantial torque. Smaller gas springs are less expensive than
large gas springs, they have a small diameter and they only take up a
small space. When the holder and berth combination is in its retracted
position, the torque exerted on the holder by each of the gas springs
should be at least 120 Nm, preferably about 150 Nm. Then the holder and
berth combination is fully or almost fully balanced in its retracted
position. Nevertheless, it is recommended to provide a locking device for
securing the holder and berth combination in the retracted position. If
only the staff has a key to the locking device, unauthorized use of the
berth is prevented.
The gas springs that influence the turning movement of the holder and berth
combination should each have one end turnably journalled at a fixed point
close to the ceiling, preferably inside a recess in the ceiling, where the
berth can be concealed when not in use. When the holder is in its lowered
position, this fixed point should preferably be approximately in line with
the loading point and the turning axis of the holder. Then the torque
exerted by these gas springs is approximately at its smallest value when
the holder is in its lowered position and is approximately at its greatest
value when the holder is in its retracted position. This makes it easy to
lift up the holder and berth combination into the ceiling recess, because
this action requires only a slight force.
It is of further advantage to install the gas springs so that when the
holder is in its lowered position, the action direction of the gas springs
is at a small perpendicular distance, that is some centimeters, from the
turning axis of the holder at a side thereof causing a torque keeping the
holder and berth combination securely in its lowered position.
The gas springs acting directly on the berth are preferably so arranged
that they exert their force at a point of the berth which, when the berth
is in its position of use, is between the berth's turning axis and the
holder. The force of these gas springs then efficiently acts in a
direction lifting the berth, and in addition, the gas springs themselves
do not form an additional load when the berth is folded up towards its
intermediate position against the holder.
For better safety in use, the gas springs acting directly on the berth are
arranged to act at a point of the berth which is at least approximately at
the same horizontal distance from the turning axis of the berth when the
berth is in its use position as when the berth is folded up against the
holder. In this manner the berth remains reliably in its position folded
up against the holder.
If the turning axis of the berth is sufficiently far from the edge of the
berth, the gas springs acting directly on the berth may have a relatively
long torque radius. This makes it possible to use small springs with a
spring force even smaller than one half of the force of each of the gas
springs acting on the holder. This reduces not only the weight of the
holder and berth combination, but also the price of the gas springs. If,
for example, the distance of the turning axis of the berth from the
berth's closest longitudinal edge is at least 10 cm, preferably at least
13 cm, the gas springs of the berth can easily be given a long torque
radius and then they do not have to have a great spring force. Further,
this position of the turning axis results in the torque acting on the
berth due to the weight of the user being moderate, or at least less than
if the turning axis were closer to the edge of the berth.
It is recommended that the gas springs of the berth are arranged so that
throughout the range of angular positions of the berth, from its use
position to its folded up intermediate position, they exert a torque
turning the berth towards the holder. In the use position of the berth,
the weight of the berth overcomes the torque exerted by the gas springs of
the berth and keeps the berth in position. Turning the berth against
gravity towards the holder is facilitated by the torque of the gas springs
and may thus be carried out with little external force through the entire
range of angular movement of the berth.
At least the gas springs acting on the holder are preferably so called
linear springs, having a spring force that is at the most only to a slight
degree dependent on the extension/compression position of the spring.
Hence, an almost uniform gas spring force is available over the entire
working range of the gas spring. Consequently, the torque exerted is
influenced mainly only by the perpendicular distance between the acting
direction of the force and the actual turning axis. The gas springs acting
only on the berth do not have to be linear, because when the berth is
folded up towards the holder, no great force is needed for keeping the
berth in position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawing, the single FIGURE of which schematically shows a
cross-section of a berth arrangement according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the drawing, 1 indicates a movable berth having a retracted position in
which it is accommodated in a recess 3 in the ceiling 2 of a sleeping
compartment, for example a ship's cabin, a sleeping compartment on a
railroad train, or a worker accommodation unit in a work camp. The
sleeping compartment may be implemented as a substantially self-contained
construction unit that is built at a construction site and transported to
an installation site, such as a shipyard, for installation in a larger
structure and connection to utility supplies, such as electricity and
water. Dashed lines show the positions of the movable parts when the berth
1 is in its retracted or stored position, and full lines show the
positions of the parts when the berth is in its lowered or deployed
position. Close to one longitudinal side of the recess 3 there are
bearings 4, in which a holder 5 carrying the berth 1 is turnably
journalled relative to the stationary structure of the cabin. The berth is
turnably journalled in the holder 5 by means of bearings 6.
The berth 1 is provided with a normal size bed mattress and other bed
clothes, not shown in the drawing. In the lowered position of the holder 5
its lower edge contacts a support or buffer structure 8, for example a
thick plastic strip attached to a nearby wall 7, for limiting angular
movement of the holder 5 in the clockwise direction. The plastic strip
also protects the wall from damage. The holder 5 includes a stopper 9 that
limits the movement of the berth 1 in the clockwise direction relative to
the holder and supports the berth when it is folded out to its horizontal
use position.
The holder 5 includes a back wall 22 attached to stiffening and force
transmission elements 23 at both its shorter ends. In the retracted
position of the berth, the wall 22 covers the opening of the recess 3, so
that a uniform ceiling surface is formed leaving the entire berth
arrangement fully concealed.
For facilitating movement of the holder 5 and the berth 1 between use
position and retracted position, there are, close to the two opposite end
walls of the recess 3, respective gas springs 10. Each of the gas springs
10 is journalled at one end in a bearing at a fixed point 11 of the
respective end wall, and at its opposite end in a bearing at a point 13 of
a protrusion 12 rigid with the element 23 at the respective end of the
holder 5.
For balancing the torque caused by the weight of the berth 1 and the
accessories contained therein, there is a gas spring 14 at each end of the
berth 1. Each of these springs 14 is at one end, journalled at a point 15,
fixed relative to the holder 5 and at the opposite end is journalled at a
point 16 of the berth. The point 16 is between the turning axis 6 of the
berth 1 and the back wall 22 of the holder 5 and close to the upper level
of the berth 1 when the berth is in its position of use.
For moving the holder and berth combination from the deployed position to
the retracted position in the recess 3, the berth 1 is first lifted from
its outer edge 17 upwards to fold it up towards the holder 5. The motion
path of the outer edge 17 of the berth is shown by an arc 18. This folding
movement is essentially facilitated by the force generated by the two gas
springs 14. The torque provided by the springs 14 should be such that the
external tangential force needed at the outer longitudinal edge of the
berth to retain the berth at any angular position on the arc 18 should be
no greater than 5 kg, preferably no greater than 2 kg, and more preferably
no greater than 1 kg.
In the next phase the combination of the holder 5 and the berth 1 is turned
guided by its bearings 4 into the recess 3. The motion path of the lower
end of the stiffening portions 23 is shown by an arc 19. Lifting of the
combination of the holder 5 and the berth 1 is essentially facilitated by
the force generated by the gas springs 10. The torque exerted by the gas
springs 10 relatively closely matches the torque exerted by the
combination 1, 5 throughout its range of angular movement. At the very
beginning of the lift, the torque exerted by the gas springs 10 relative
to the bearings 6 is very small and directed downwards (clockwise). At the
beginning of the lift, the effect of gravity is insignificant, but
immediately thereafter the direction of the torque exerted by the gas
springs 10 changes direction (becomes counter-clockwise) and grows rapidly
as the lift proceeds. Because the distance between the holder's turning
axis 4 and the point 13 is rather great, at least 150 mm, a reasonably
powerful gas spring 10 generates a substantial torque facilitating the
lift. The torque exerted by the gas springs 10 should be such that the
external tangential force needed at the outer edge of the holder to retain
the combination at any angular position on the arc 19 within a sector of
at the most 75.degree. from the holder's fully retracted position should
be no greater than 5 kg, preferably no greater than 2 kg, and more
preferably no greater than 1 kg.
When the holder and berth combination has reached its retracted position, a
latch device 20 may be engaged to ensure that the holder and berth
combination reliably remains in the recess 3. The latch device 20 may have
a removable turning handle 21. The latch device may be either in the
holder 5 or in the ceiling 2.
A latch device may also be provided for retaining the holder 5 in its
lowered position. This latch device may be engaged and disengaged
automatically in response to movement of the berth respectively to and
from its use position and may have parts in common with the latch device
20. For instance, the same opening in the holder may receive alternatively
a latch member located in the vicinity of the buffer structure 8 for
retaining the holder in the lowered position or a latch member located in
the vicinity of the recess 3 for retaining the holder in the retracted
position.
It is evident from the drawing that the torque exerted by the practically
linear gas spring 10 has its maximum value when the holder and berth
combination is just below its retracted position. The value of the maximum
torque exerted by the gas spring is selected relative to the torque
exerted by the holder and berth combination such that when the latch
device 20 is released, the holder rotates slightly toward the lowered
position. It is then easy to grasp the holder and pull it down farther
toward the lowered position. This arrangement also gives a visible
indication of whether the latch device 20 is engaged.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but several
modifications thereof are feasible within the scope of the attached
claims.
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